Finger pressing massage glove

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a fingertip massaging glove; particularly, a glove massager to facilitate a user in operation according to his preference. The glove massager includes a glove  10  fit out one&#39;s hand for vibration, a vibration device  20  enclosed inside of the glove  10  includes a panel  21  with an interface  21   h  displayed on a hand back of the glove  10 , a number of eccentric vibrators  23  connected to the panel  21  by leads  22 . A set of batteries  21   g  are disposed inside the panel  21  to supplement power to the glove. When the vibrators are powered to vibrate, affected part of a user can be relieved pain or sore. Furthermore, a second side of the glove includes palm, fingertips portions embossed with grip dots has a depth deeper than a normal breadth of the glove.

FILED OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a finger pressing massage glove,which is portable, easy to preserve, and operated according to user'spreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gloved hand massaging is manipulated by user's hand; persons skilled inthe art have provided kinds of glove massager. For instance, U.S. Pat.No. 6,748,604 entitled “Glove massager” to Duboff et al. on Jun. 15,2004 disclosed a glove which includes massage elements within each ofthe fingertips of the glove. Each massage element includes a housing anda motor therein for vibrating the housing. Or U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,509entitled “Fingertip massager” to Gary Duboff on Mar. 20, 2001, aplurality of panels attachable to and detachable from the housing of themassager for vibration with the housing on fingertip. A securing strapis provided for attaching the device to the single finger of a user.

Obviously, fingertip massager mountable to a user's fingertip can beassembled to form a glove massager worn by hand; only the massageelements can be located proximate to the palm. A massage element is notonly shaped with a convex (i.e. hemispheric) or concave surface, but afirst portion of the housing abuts against topside of the finger, asecond portion detachable from the housing one may obtain access to amotor for its servicing or replacement. Maintenance work of separatefingertip massagers assembled on a glove will be hard to be fulfilled.Since there are numerous portions, convex and concave surfaces amongfingertips and palm, securing straps or fasteners are required forattaching massagers to fingertips or center of palm, or wrist;otherwise, massagers may be vibrated to go wrong track, or the glove maydrop out thereof. Massaging effect is dependent on hemispheric massageelement or node activated by motor only, no other options, no moremarginal utilities can be expected.

A massager can be embodied by a permanent magnet such as published US2005137445 entitled “eye massager for receiving magnetic devices” toChang et al. on Jun. 23, 2005. A mask body is formed with two throughholes at positions corresponding to those of user's eyes. Each throughhole enclosed by a rubber ring is passed through by and fixed with apermanent magnet sealed in a handle by a plug. Magnetic fields generatedfrom the permanent magnet will pass through bottom planes and grooves ofthe plugs to activate the eye's nerves so as to adjust the function ofeyes. But magnets incorporated into a glove massager for vibration maybe a time consuming task, because magnets should be identified andarrayed according to their polarities or magnetic force, such as amassager need to loose grip or knuckle, permanent magnets could notproduce constant vibrations to the glove. Further, to manipulate such amagnetic glove massager worn by hand, the user must exert more forcethrough his palm, or fingers.

Or embodied as published US 200621961 entitled “Massager with shockabsorption, multiple contact surface and visual therapy effects” toMeyer Elizabeth et al. on Sep. 21, 2006, basically two or morehemispheric massage nodes are expected from US 200621961 as described inits parent patented case U.S. Pat. No. 7,128,722, entitled “Percussivemassager with variable node spacing” to Mordechai et al. on Oct. 31,2006 incorporated into US 200621961. To reduce shock and vibrationimparted to hand or wrist, spring and dampener are aligned coaxially ata connection between handle and massage head. The dampener may containgel, fluid and so on to improve the absorption of shock and vibration.It is assumed that the anti-shock dampener is mainly dependent on theco-axial spring, but such a combination of spring and dampener isfurther restricted to a linear movement likely applications of Hook'slaw.

Moreover, use of latex gloves and finger cots in combination withlubricants, vinyl gloves—which are traditionally used to replacelatex—are even worse as far as permeability and damage from non-waterbased lubricants are concerned. Therefore, a glove embossed withhundreds of “grip dots” distributed over its surface in contact withskin, at least, will be a better choice for users than traditionalgloves or cots, such grip dots is incorporated into the glove massagerof the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is to provide an eccentric vibrationglove massager being portable, easy to preserve, and manipulatedaccording to user's preferences.

Point against aforesaid defects of prior arts, the present invention isto provide a glove massager comprising a glove 10 worn by hand; aplurality of grip dots 11 are distributed over a second side includedcenter of palm and fingertips surfaces of the glove 10; a vibrationdevice 20 enclosed inside of the glove 10 includes a panel 21 displayedon a first side of hand back portion of the glove 10, the panel 21 hasan interface 21 h, a number of eccentric vibrators 23 connected to thepanel 21 by leads 22, a set of batteries 21 g mounted inside the panel21 as a power source; the panel 21 is equipped with a first button 21 awith two keys to activate vibrator and grip dots on a thumb portion, anindex finger portion respectively, a second button 21 b to activatevibrators and grip dots of the glove, a frequency button 21 c withforward and backward function keys for increment or decrement operationfrequency, and a power switch 21 d for switching on or off power source.

Glove massager as mentioned above, the eccentric vibrators 23 arelocated on the fingertips of the glove 10.

Glove massager as mentioned above, the eccentric vibrators 23 arelocated on a palm portion of the glove 10.

Glove massager as mentioned above, the eccentric vibrators 23 arelocated on a hand back portion of the glove 10.

Glove massager as mentioned above, the eccentric vibrator 23 is enclosedinside a housing 24, which is shaped as a tube.

Glove massager as mentioned above, the panel has a number of lightemitting diodes (LEDs) 21 e for showing response signals.

Glove massager as mentioned above, the set of batteries 21 g are directcurrent (DC) 650-900 milli-Ampere-hour capacity (AAA) batteries orNickel-Metal Hybride (Ni-Mh) AAA rechargeable batteries.

Glove massager as mentioned above, a transformer converts alternatecurrent (AC) into direct current (DC) to the rechargeable batteries.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: shows an exploded view of the glove massager;

FIG. 2: shows a perspective view of the glove massager;

FIG. 2A: shows an enlarged elevated view of the panel of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2B: shows an enlarged exploded view of the eccentric vibrator ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 3: shows a perspective view of the glove massager with the thumbportion pointing up toward affected area;

FIG. 4: shows a side view of the glove massager moved the thumb portionand mitten portion;

FIG. 5A: shows a diagrammatic view of the eccentric vibrator in rotarymotion in clockwise;

FIG. 5B: shows a cross sectional view of the eccentric vibrator of FIG.5A;

FIG. 6A: shows a diagrammatic view of the eccentric vibrator in rotarymotion in clockwise following up FIG. 5A; and

FIG. 6B: shows a cross sectional view of the eccentric vibrator of FIG.5B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The description is described in detail according to the appendeddrawings hereinafter.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a glove massager 20 equipped with eccentricvibrators 23 is composed of a glove 10, and a vibration device 20 ishidden from view and enclosed inside of the glove 10. The vibrationdevice 20 includes a panel 21 displayed an interface 21 h on a firstside (i.e. hand-back portion) of the glove 10. The panel 21 has a set ofbatteries 21 g to supply power to the glove 10. A number of leads 22 areconnected to a number of eccentric vibrators 23 on fingertips, palm, andhand-back portions respectively. In other words, the vibrators 23 are inparallel connection with the panel 21 to be operated subsequently. Suchvibrators in parallel connection to the panel are mainly divided into afirst dominated portion, a second attached portion. But the glove takesshape of user's hand is obviously divided into thumb and mitten portionswith alternative postures—either a pointed or a curved posture—can bepracticed for a grip massaging; but the vibrators 23 of fingertips etc.,are activated by pressing buttons 21 a or 21 b. A massage grip can beformed by means of the mitten portion in a coordination action with thethumb portion of the glove, or a thumb portion pointing up is directlyopposite to an affected part. Or a vibrator of an index fingered portionis activated duly for the patient's use. Or a thumb portion and an indexfinger portion of the glove can be combined in use. Thereby, a firstbutton 21 a of the panel 21 can activate a thumb portion, an indexfingered portion, or both according to the user's preference. Other thanthe mitten portion is in coordination with the thumb portion with anenhanced massage effect, a glove massager put on hand is to be dominatedby vibrators of the thumb portion or the index fingered portion to exertpressure to relieve a local aching; but vibrators of a second attachedportion, namely part of the mitten portion includes a middle, ring andlittle fingered portion, are not activated independently but attached tothe first dominated portion in use. Vibrators of both the firstdominated and the second attached portions of such a glove can beactivated by a second button 21 b of the panel 21. But only firstdominated portion can be activated by the button 21 a optionally.Vibrators can also be added to a second side (i.e. center of palmportion) of the glove, and a first side (i.e. hand back portion) aboutthe wrist, once the palm portion or hand back portions are added withvibrators, they are broadly defined and included in the mitten portionand controlled by the second button 21 b, all of the vibrators 23 can beactivated by pressing the second button 21 b of the panel 21 in onestep. A hand-back portion added with vibrator can be suitable for a petmassage in contact with soft fur instead of massaging grip. And a palmportion added with vibrators can also expand the massaging area. Toactivate hand-back portions vibrators can also be suitable for massagingwith a knuckle. Both the palm and hand-back portion vibration can besuitable for massaging affected areas about armpits or calf and behindknee or shoulder about neck by a patient himself.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the panel 21 is equipped with buttons 21 a, 21 b,and 21 c and power switch 21 d. Where the button 21 a having “T” keyelectrically connected to the thumb portion and “I” key electricallyconnected to the index fingered portion, vibrators of the thumb, indexfingered portions can be activated immediately by pressing the T, or Ikey of button 21 a respectively. A user can optionally select the thumbportion, the index fingered portion or both for vibration by pressing Tkey or I key or both keys of the button 21 a at the same time. The gloveis made of synthesis resin, rubber, or silicone to form a heavy rubberglove; further, the second side of the glove 10 is distributed with gripdots; therefore, as the mitten portion of the glove 10 takes user's handshape, at least, can be implemented in a normally curved posture as FIG.2 depicted or curling around posture as FIG. 3 depicted or pointing upposture as FIG. 4 depicted. The button 21 b is designed to activate notonly the first dominated portion, but also the second attached portion.While a second side (i.e. center of palm), or a first side (i.e. back ofhand) of the glove 10 can also be equipped with vibrators activated bythe same button 21 b for vibration. According to such an arrangement,either the first side (i.e. back of hand) or the second side (i.e. palmportion) for vibration is not separated from the mitten portion andcontrolled by the second button 21 b. The button 21 c is furtherprovided with a forward and a backward function key indicated that thefrequency of vibrators can be adjusted higher or lower than a defaultfrequency by pressing the forward or backward function key, for example,the button 21 c may be combined with a sliding variable resistor whichpermits the speed of a motor and hence the frequency of the vibrationsgenerated by eccentric mass to be controlled, once pressing on thefunction key comes to a halt, that is a “broken circuit” happened to thebutton 21 c. User can adjust the frequency anew by pressing one of thefunction keys or both. The power switch 21 d is to switch on or off thepower source. All the buttons and switch can be operated according touser's preference. A number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 21 e areresponsive to the operations of the buttons and switch; accordingly,statuses of the glove 10 in use can be easily inferred from signalsshown by LEDs 21 e.

The glove 10 is made of flexible rubber, silicone, synthesis resin etc.,all snugly fit one's hand. A lid 21 f is covered over the set ofbatteries 21 g to reduce electricity leakage further facilitatereplacement of used batteries with new batteries.

Eccentric vibrators 23 of the invention can be known from use ofeccentric masses concurrently rotated about parallel axes in oppositedirections. Such vibrators may be activated at the same time, but notvibrate at the same frequency, since vibration frequency can be adjustedseparately after activating only one portion such as the thumb portionat an adjusted speedy frequency for a while, but to activate the otherportion such as the index fingered portion later at a default frequencyunless the user adjust the frequency also. Vibrators 23 are mainlyinstalled to fingertips of the glove 10, or center of palm of the glove10, further can be installed to hand-back portion of the glove 10. Inpractice, eccentric vibrators are firstly installed to the fingertipsportions, secondly to center of palm portion, thirdly to hand-backportion.

The set of batteries 21 g are direct current batteries or rechargeablebatteries, or alternating current (AC) converted into direct current(DC) supplements power to the rechargeable batteries. The set ofbatteries 21 g are direct current (DC) 650-900 milli-Ampere-hourcapacity (AAA) batteries or Nickel-Metal Hybride (Ni-Mh) AAArechargeable batteries.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the eccentric vibrator 23 is composed of aneccentric mass 23 a and a motor 23 b; furthermore, the eccentricvibrator 23 is enclosed by a tubular housing 24.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the mitten portion 12 of the glove 10further divided into four compartments can accommodate index finger, midfinger, ring finger and little finger wearing the glove corresponding tothe compartments in place. Whereby, a pointed up thumb portion asdepicted in FIG. 3 or an index finger portion separated from the mittenportion can be used for vibration with as a relief of local aching. Or agrip of the thumb portion in coordination action with mitten portion ofa curved posture for massaging as depicted in FIG. 4 or as the secondattached portion combined to first dominated portion for vibration as amassaging grip. As the eccentric vibrators 23 are activated, the gripdots 11 distributed over fingertips, center of palm around vibrators 23are moved to and fro to exert pressure to the affected area. The gripdots 11 are mainly formed on the fingertips and palm integrally with theglove by injection molding. As a result, the second side of the glove isembossed with hundreds of grip dots to increase a depth of the glovewith an evenly distributed convex and concave surface popped to theaffected area, so that a breadth of the glove is increased to the secondside of the glove 10. Where vibrator with grip dots can be kept for aconstant vibration since the grip dots are evenly distributed with equalsize, equal spacing; therefore, the vibrator can be operated withefficiency. Due to the grip dots have a certain depth increased to thesurface of the glove being in contact with patient's skin, at least,grip dots incorporated into the surface of the glove is one and halftimes deeper than the glove breadth. Where the embossed grip dots can bekept intermittent gaps between the affected part and the second side ofthe glove, further air-circulation space could be retained, at least, tolimit expansion of diseases such as dermatitis etc., from affected partto others directly. Since the grip dots shaped on one side of the glovecan be shaped wavelike (such as sinusoidal waveform) with soft pressureeffective in supporting the glove massager in contact with skin, furthera massage effect increased to the affected part, and grip dots are easyto clean, even can be immersed through non-water based detergentswithout deterioration.

Referring to FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6A and 6B, an eccentric vibrator 23 iscomposed of an eccentric mass 23 a and a motor 23 b. Owing to thegravity center is not located at a center of the vibrator 23, theeccentric mass 23 a of the vibrator 23 may be vibrated to go wrongtrack, but a housing 24 can locate the eccentric vibrator 23 in placemake constant vibration possible, further can be avoided damage fromforce outside.

Advantages of Embodiments of the Invention

Glove massager of the invention is easy to manipulate due to switches 21a, 21 b, 21 c, and 21 d, can be operated optionally, thereby themassager can relieve a pain or sore affected part. Interface 21 h of thepanel 21 is designed to achieve a massage effect according to one'spreference. Statuses of massaging can be inferred from response signalsshown with a number of LEDs 21 e above all ambiguity.

Further, vibration device 20 is hidden from view and enclosed inside ofthe glove 10 worn by hand. A glove with vibration device put on one'shand from fingertips to the wrist. Since a glove takes user's hand shapeis divided into a thumb and a mitten portion, but in use, issubstantially divided into a dominated first portion and an attachedsecond portion electrically connected to the activated buttons 21 a, 21b. The mitten portion of the glove takes user's hand shape is furtherdivided into four compartments for fitting in index finger, middlefinger, ring finger and little finger with a little curved posture,glove massager worn on hand is neither dropping out nor vibrating to gowrong track. Glove massager made of soft silicone, rubber, or synthesisresin is portable and easy to preserve. Further hundreds of grip dotsdistributed over the glove massager, on one hand, may increase its depthto protect the user from infected with such as human immunodeficiencyvirus (HIV); on the other hand, the glove surface embossed with gripdots may be shaped by injection molding in one step. As grip dots areintegrally formed on the surface of fingertips, palm, or even hand back,which are easy manipulation and shock absorption.

Fingertips 12 of the glove 10 are separated from each other; hence athumb portion, or an index fingered portion, or a dominated firstportion included both thumb and index finger can exert force that usestrigger point therapy to relieve pain and sore affected areas,fingertips of a mitten portion (i.e. four fingered portion) is dividedinto four compartments, part of the mitten portion as the secondattached portion included middle, ring and little fingered portionsetc., can be optionally activated to exert more massage force inaddition to the first dominated portion on an affected part by pressingthe second button 21 b one and all. User also can put both hands withglove massagers having both, for example, thumb and mitten portionsthereon. But, the glove massager can be provided according to one'shandedness, or a pair of glove massagers provided to both hands for auser.

A set of batteries 21 g are assembled to the panel 21, which isconnected to the glove 10 integrally as a whole, a lid 21 f is coveredover the set of batteries 21 g to reduce electricity leakage furtherfacilitate replacement of used batteries with new batteries.

Eccentric vibrator 23 enclosed by a tubular housing 21 may avoid fromimpacts caused by outer force. The tubular housing 21 also can preventthe eccentric vibrators 23 from abrasion caused by constant frictionbetween glove 10 and vibrators 23. That may cause the eccentricvibrators 23 dropped out of the glove 10.

1. A glove massager comprising a glove (10) worn by hand; a vibrationdevice (20) enclosed inside of the glove (10) includes a panel (21)displayed on a hand back portion of a first side of the glove (10), thepanel (21) has an interface (21 h), a number of eccentric vibrators (23)connected to the panel (21) by leads (22), a set of batteries (21 g)mounted inside the panel as a power source; characterized in that: theglove (10) is embossed with a plurality of grip dots (11) distributedover a second side, included center of palm and fingertips surfaces ofthe glove (10), the panel (21) is equipped with a first button (21 a)having function keys T key, I key to activate vibrator and grip dots ofa thumb portion, an index fingered portion respectively; a second button(21 b) to activate vibrators and grip dots of the glove (10); afrequency button (21 c) with forward and backward function keys forincrement or decrement operation frequency; and a power switch (21 d) toswitch on or off power source.
 2. A glove massager as claim 1 claimed,the eccentric vibrators (23) are located on the fingertips includedthumb portion, index fingered portion, middle fingered portion, ringfingered portion and little fingered portion of the glove (10).
 3. Aglove massager as claim 1 claimed, the eccentric vibrators (23) arelocated on a palm portion of the glove (10).
 4. A glove massager asclaim 1 claimed, the eccentric vibrators (23) are located on a hand backportion of the glove (10).
 5. A glove massager as claim 1 claimed, theeccentric vibrator (23) is enclosed inside of a housing (24), which isshaped as a tube.
 6. A glove massager as claim 1 claimed, the panel hasa number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) (21 e) for showing responsesignals.
 7. A glove massager as mentioned above, the set of batteries(21 g) are direct current (DC) 650-900 milli-Ampere-hour capacity (AAA)batteries or Nickel-Metal Hybride (Ni-Mh) AAA rechargeable batteries. 8.A glove massager as claim 7 claimed, a transformer converts alternatecurrent (AC) into direct current (DC) to the rechargeable batteries. 9.A glove massager as claim 1 claimed, the glove 10 is a heavy rubberglove made of silicone, synthesis resin, or rubber.
 10. A glove massageras claim 1 claimed, the glove 10 is embossed with a plurality of gripdots as heavy rubber glove, at least, palm and fingertips portions withgrip dots has a depth one and half times deeper than a breadth of theglove.